Self-Employed Health Insurance in the Netherlands

If you’re moving to the Netherlands and plan to work independently you’ll usually be responsible for your own health insurance. Employed people in the Netherlands may have insurance through their company – but most self employed individuals need to arrange their own Dutch basic health insurance. If you have just arrived, still need a BSN, or work across borders, you may need an official status check first.

This guide explains the rules, cover, costs, deadlines, and what to do next.

Key takeaways

For most self-employed people, the rule is simple: if you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic health insurance usually applies. The harder cases are new arrivals, cross-border workers, and freelancers whose residence or social insurance position is still being checked, so use official guidance from SKGZ, SVB, and the Belastingdienst before you guess.

Do self-employed people need Dutch health insurance?

If you are self-employed and actually living and working in the Netherlands, the answer is usually yes. For a broader background, see our guides below:

Healthcare Basics

The healthcare system in the Netherlands

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The main risk is assuming your foreign cover still counts once you start Dutch self-employment.

Your residence, work pattern, and social insurance status matter more than your client location when deciding whether Dutch insurance is required.

If any of the following apply, you’ll need to confirm the correct next steps regarding Dutch self employed health insurance to ensure you’re covered properly:

• You live in the Netherlands and freelance from there
• You commute into the Netherlands for most of your work
• You have started work but still rely on EHIC, GHIC, or old home-country cover
• You have recently arrived and are waiting for admin, such as a BSN
• You split work between countries and are not sure which social system applies

Healthcare Basics

Guide to getting health insurance in the Netherlands in 2026

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Most freelancers and zzp’ers will need Dutch basic insurance

A zzp’er is a self-employed person without employees. The basic Dutch policy is called the basisverzekering, which means the standard health insurance package set by the government.

SKGZ says people who are obliged to take out Dutch basic insurance should enrol within four months, and insurers must accept eligible applicants for that basic package. That acceptance rule applies to the basic policy, not automatically to supplementary cover.

When an expat may need an SVB/Wlz assessment or temporary cover first

One thing worth knowing is that expat edge cases do exist. If you live abroad and work in the Netherlands, work in more than one country, are seconded, or your residence and work setup do not clearly point to one system, ask the SVB for a Wlz assessment instead of relying on forum advice.

If you are still waiting for a BSN tax registration number, or you have only just arrived, do not cancel valid cover too early. Keep temporary cover in place if needed, then confirm your position with SVB or SKGZ and switch once your Dutch insurance duty is clear.

What does Dutch health insurance cover, and what do freelancers need separately?

Dutch health insurance is there to cover medical care, not to protect your freelance income or your business. That difference matters because new arrivals may assume that “freelance insurance” is more extensive, and miss gaps that only show up when something goes wrong.

What basic insurance includes

The government decides what sits in the basic package. According to Rijksoverheid, core cover includes GP care, hospital treatment, many prescription medicines, and mental healthcare, although conditions and deductibles can vary by type of care.

Adult dental care, most routine physiotherapy, and some extras sit outside the standard package. Always check the current policy wording because the package and reimbursement rules can change each year.

What sits outside health insurance

Dutch health insurance does not replace the other protections freelancers often need. If you are building a business here, read Expatica’s guides to running a business in the Netherlands and social security in the Netherlands.

Editor in The Netherlands

Tarah Ren

Insider tip

Many new zzp’ers assume their monthly premium protects their income if they are too ill to work, but Dutch basic health insurance covers medical care, not lost freelance earnings.

What does self-employed health insurance cost?

The total cost is not just one monthly bill. Most freelancers pay an insurer premium, face the annual eigen risico, which is the mandatory deductible, and may also pay an income-related healthcare contribution through the tax system.

Monthly premiums, eigen risico, and the income-related contribution

A common confusion is mixing the insurer premium with the tax-linked contribution. Business.gov.nl explains that self-employed people can also owe an income-dependent Zvw contribution on top of the premium paid to their insurer.

The 2026 mandatory eigen risico is €385, and GP care is not charged against it, according to SKGZ and Rijksoverheid. Monthly premiums vary by insurer and policy type, so check live quotes before you buy.

Can you get zorgtoeslag as a freelancer?

Yes, some freelancers can get zorgtoeslag, the healthcare allowance, if their income and assets stay within the yearly limits. You must have Dutch basic health insurance first, and your household situation also affects the result.

How to choose and apply for a policy as a zzp’er

If you are not sure where to start, the key question is not just price. It is whether the policy will be easy to use where you live, whether nearby providers are contracted, and whether the admin feels manageable in English.

How to compare Dutch insurers and policy types

When you compare Dutch insurers, look at the premium, deductible options, contracted providers, claims processes, English-language support, and whether supplementary cover has separate acceptance rules. Popular providers for Dutch residents include ONVZ, FBTO, Zilveren Kruis, Independer, and Zorgwijzer.

A cheap policy can cost more later if it gives limited access to local providers or makes reimbursement harder. That matters even more if you have just moved to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, or Utrecht and still need to find a provider near home.

If your situation requires international coverage or specialized expat-focused support, you may also want to explore options like:

• Allianz Worldwide Care
• Cigna Global
• April International
• Feather Insurance

Be sure to compare policies across your shortlist on Expatica’s health insurance comparison page to see which one best meets your medical and administrative needs.

Insurance quotes

The best health insurance quotes 2026

Compare providers

Step-by-step application for new arrivals and existing residents

1. Register with your gemeente (municipality or town hall) and get your BSN, if you are eligible to do so.
2. Check whether Dutch basic insurance applies now, or whether your case needs SVB or SKGZ verification first.
3. Compare insurers and policy types, then keep a shortlist based on provider access, admin ease, and any supplementary needs.
4. Prepare the usual details, such as ID, address, BSN, and payment details.
5. Submit the application and confirm the policy start date.
6. Once active, register with a local huisarts (GP) and learn which providers your policy contracts.

If you are still waiting for a BSN or your status is unclear, keep valid cover in place and do not assume you can safely wait without checking.

Working in the Netherlands with foreign clients? 

While you’re setting up your health care provisions, why not also tackle your business finances? If you invoice overseas clients, a multi-currency business account such as the Wise Business account can make it easier to receive foreign-currency income and pay Dutch premiums without extra admin becoming the main problem.

Discover Wise

Common expat mistakes when sorting out freelance insurance

Most expensive mistakes come from treating Dutch health insurance like a travel policy or assuming it also covers business risk. What matters in practice is knowing which problem your policy solves, and which problems sit elsewhere.

Mistaking EHIC, GHIC, or foreign cover for full Dutch eligibility

EHIC or GHIC may still help with medically necessary care during a temporary stay. But once you are living and working in the Netherlands as a freelancer, that cover often stops being enough, so check with SKGZ or ask for an SVB assessment.

Choosing on price alone and missing provider access or English support

A low premium can be a false economy if your local GP options are limited or the reimbursement process is awkward. If you are a UK freelancer moving to Amsterdam while still invoicing overseas clients, check practical issues first, such as nearby huisarts availability and how the insurer handles English-language customer support.

Editor in The Netherlands

Tarah Ren

Insider tip

A low-cost policy may look fine on a comparison site, but it can be far less practical if GP practices near your postcode are already full or if customer service is only available in Dutch.